@Chase- Oh it's only how they see themselves, and what they want to do... Democrats are all about self-image and desire, you know.

Incidentally, has anyone ever thought about how coffeeshop culture has changed politics? People go there and don't talk too loud, we eat carbs and drink caffeine and surf the Internet, we insist on having our $4 drinks exactly the way we like them.

Seems like the coffeehouse way-of-thinking has become the American way-of-thinking...

When I graduated from high school, an English teacher who had inspired me gave me a lidded pottery crock as a graduation gift. In the crock were fifty or so folded papers. On each paper, the teacher had written, in her studied calligraphy, phrases from poets and philosophers.

At the time, I thought, whoa, this is weird: funky, hippy pottery with stoner poetry!

Thirty years later, I look into that crock almost every evening before I go to sleep.

Was it possible to form the oxymoronic phrase, "damned cool" with the words made available at the Stray Words Cafe?

If there really were a Stray Words Cafe, would there be a wall devoted to everyone whose careers were destroyed by their stray words? Would Janet Napolitano's assurance that the incident in Detroit on Christmas day proved that "the system worked" be included?

Mrs. Hendy: Do all philosophers have an S in them?Mr. Hendy: Yeah I think most of them do.Mrs. Hendy: Oh... Does that mean Selina Jones is a philosopher?Mr. Hendy: Yeah... Right, she could be... she sings about the Meaning of Life.Mrs. Hendy: Yeah, that's right, but I don't think she writes her own material.Mr. Hendy: No. Maybe Schopenhauer writes her material?Mrs. Hendy: No... Burt Bacharach writes it.Mr. Hendy: There's no 'S' in Burt Bacharach...Mrs. Hendy: ...Or in Hal David...Mr. Hendy: Who's Hal David?Mrs. Hendy: He writes the lyrics, Burt just writes the tunes... only now he's married to Carole Bayer Sager...Mr. Hendy: Oh... Waiter... this conversation isn't very good

I was thinking that the mural was butt-ugly enough to discourage loitering and thus raise revenue. Many times I've walked by a coffeehouse, seen every table for four fully occupied by a solitary laptopper, and decided to move along.

I was thinking that the mural was butt-ugly enough to discourage loitering and thus raise revenue. Many times I've walked by a coffeehouse, seen every table for four fully occupied by a solitary laptopper, and decided to move along.

Am so with you on that one, fls.

I was in the Pasadena Borders week before last, with $660 worth of gifts I was prepared to buy. Since it was the only time I could grab a bite for the next 6 hours, I ordered at the cafe. There was not one table unoccuppied, not by other shoppers, but by students alone or in groups of 2, all with laptops and school texts, and only half of the students had drinks or purchases. I thought colleges were out on break! but sadly, not one table or seat left for a paying customer who wanted to eat and spend over $600.

So, I took all of my purchases to the front register, let them ring them up, said "first, I have a complaint", told the cashier - a manager was nearby and came over while I was talking, and then watched as the manager feigned sympathy - I'm so sorry, we're so busy this season - but no offer to in any way help or make up for it.So, I said "Nice. How much do I owe you?"

"$667.31".

"Good. Now you thoughtless busy people can put it all back. Merry Christmas."

I saved $48 buying all but one of the items on Amazon.

The moral - stores that supposedly empower their managers don't have a clue. On the other hand:

Tiffany's was a fantastic experience, and I only spent $350 on a very rushed Monday before Christmas at South Coast Plaza. They treated me and every other customer I saw wonderfully regardless of how much was being spent. I am going back there this Saturday to buy more. I am now a huge fan. Wish Tiffany's management would take over Starbucks and McDonalds.

I have a far better story about Tiffany's - the best run service stores in the country.